Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving: Celebrating a New Decade with Long Term Travel
Learn about the time I decided taking an around the world trip with a year of long term travel was the best way to turn 30… no regrets!
Just a week ago, we were ringing in 2015. New resolutions were made. New resolutions were promptly broken. But beyond that, what does 2015 truly mean?
For me, it means the year I will turn 30, or as a wise Jennifer Garner once said, thirty, flirty, and thriving.
That’s right, after years of birthdays that were only as exciting as hoping for my car insurance to decrease, I will be facing a new decade. And that means, it’s time to reevaluate my 20s and figure out how to send them out with a bang. That’s how everyone thinks, right?
So How Do I Celebrate Turning 30?
Now, I’m all for a good celebration, but I’m not going to do anything wild and crazy like pitch myself out of a perfectly good airplane (besides, I’ve already done that). I do however intend to follow other dreams I have had because if not now…. when?
As with planning any type of shenanigans, there is a level of excitement, skepticism, and fear of the unknown, but overall, there is curiosity.
- Will it be everything you hoped and dreamed it will be?
- What curveballs will be thrown at you along the way?
- And eventually, there comes the point where you have to wonder…. But what’s next?
So what does 2015 have in store for me?
My Big Plan to Celebrate a New Decade
After much consideration about how to welcome in the new decade, I’ve made a decision, booked a one-way plane ticket, and quit my job… That’s right, I am taking off on a multi-month adventure of travel!
While the US may not promote, approve, or accept taking a “Gap Year” or sabbatical, I find that it is an important part of personal learning, development, and growth. As such, on March 26 I will be flying to Norway on a one way ticket to pursue full-time travel and personal growth.
Preparing for My Adventure of a Lifetime
Now that the plan is out and public in the world, I have a few weeks to prepare in these three very important categories:
- Preparing to Leave Work
- Preparing to Leave Home
1. Preparing to Leave Work
As a responsible adult, I provided three weeks’ notice to my current employer. This provides me time to leave everything in good working order, transition things off appropriately, and if needed, help find/train my replacement.
Perhaps the best part of leaving work to travel was the sheer confusion of my coworkers.
- “You’re just like… quitting your job to travel?” Yes.
- “Where are you going to live?” All over!
- “What about your career?” It will be there when I get back!
Quitting your job to travel is not a common idea in the United States and quite literally, I received the most puzzling responses from those around me. The most common response? “I’m so jealous!”. And people wanting to know how they can follow along. That is of course where the Cure for Curiosity blog was born.
So follow along as I explore the ins and outs of long term travel, destinations around the world, and other helpful travel tips in case travel is part of your future!
2. Preparing to Leave Home
Next up? Trying to prepare to leave home and everything I own to move into one carry-on sized backpack! Fortunately, I have quite the experience with traveling light already.
Ultimately, I chose to take my Osprey Porter 46L Travel Backpack. This was for a number of reasons. For one, I already owned it. For another, it is carry-on size.
Learn How to Pack in a Carry On – No Matter the Trip Length
Have you ever noticed your belongings seem to multiply while you’re not looking? Yeah, me neither. As I prepared to leave home for an undetermined amount of time, I had a lot of things to do:
- End lease (Fortunately I thought of this 2 months ahead of time to avoid penalties)
- Pack up belongings and weigh the pros/cons of selling furniture vs. storing furniture
- End apartment insurance
- Re-evaluate car insurance and weigh pros/cons of selling car vs. storing it somewhere while making sure it will get driven occasionally
- Doctors’ visits and any necessary prescriptions in order to travel and still be aware of your health
- Moving day!!
3. Preparing to Travel Long Term
The biggest part of the upcoming weeks? Preparing to leave home for an indeterminant amount of time! My around the world trip was set to last at least until Christmas, maybe longer. Perhaps it would be a full year abroad, or more!
It makes it a bit difficult to plan, but there are a lot of steps to take before long term travel.
- Passport – check!
- Health/Travel Insurance!!! Say it with me!
- Preparing all necessary documents and information to leave behind with family.
- Informing credit cards of upcoming travel.
- Check into my phone plan. Do I even want an international phone plan or should I turn the plan completely off and just have an expensive wifi enabled camera device?
- Packing… oh yeah, I have to take stuff with me too! What to pack, what do I own, what do I need to acquire?
- Itinerary: Where to go, where to stay, how to get there, what to see, what to do, etc. So many things to consider!
- Finding travel companions combined with visiting friends who live along the way.
- Board that plane and never look back!
Read more: 9 Essential Things to Do Before Traveling Abroad
Now that the countdown is on… Come travel with me through my year of turning thirty, flirty, and thriving!
First stop on my long term travel itinerary: Norway!
Bon voyage!
